Achieving health is an intellectual endeavor. Although feelings, emotions and reflexes are an integral part of human existence, they are not tools of cognition. I am sadly aware that in our present-day environment reason is no longer fashionable, but nonetheless it is the mind that we must necessarily rely upon for our survival. After all, we must gain the knowledge that will guide our actions.

Life depends upon a specific course of action, which must be discovered by our intellectual faculties. Humans have specific needs and these are objective. Whether we like it or not, life comes with boundaries that if ignored through ignorance or arrogance will dispassionately bring consequences that are proportionate to the degree of our transgression.

Health is the result of healthful living. Healthful living is defined by that branch of biology - life science - which studies, investigates and applies the conditions and circumstances under which life depends. No matter how one subscribes to genesis, we have life because favorable conditions allow for it. The organism itself represents only one half of life. The other half is the environment that is capable of supporting that organism. If we divorce one from the other, life becomes impossible. So it is in our self-interest to learn what conditions are necessary to support and further life; i.e., what constitutes healthful living.

Remember, it’s not how we feel about it; it’s what we know about it. It is axiomatic that the human body is self-constructing, self-defending, and self-repairing These self evident truths can be observed everywhere and always, although usually taken for granted and therefore overlooked. Consider the following: Once a sperm and an egg unite, a creative force is explosively set in motion while we sit passively waiting for our progeny to materialize. Two cells intelligently multiply into trillions as the body constructs itself. The body defends itself by sneezing or coughing to clear an offending substance from its respiratory track, or by regurgitating food that is spoiled, or by washing and disinfecting its own eye by tearing in response to an invading foreign particle. And who hasn’t witnessed, over a lifetime, the spontaneous healing of scratches, wounds and broken bones? We are so confident that this will take place we often risk sacrificing these tissues to daredevil feats for mere entertainment. Indeed, the body is self-repairing. Every cell of the living organism is endowed with an instinct of self-preservation sustained by a force within. It is this inherent vitality that we must constantly and consciously build and be careful not to squander, so that we may experience the highest level of health and healing possible.

I will assume that you find the three axioms stated above irrefutable and therefore acceptable. These will serve as a foundation for the following three principles. The first principle states: It is crucial to distinguish between natural and natural relationship. Tobacco and arsenic are both natural, but are not in natural relationship with the body. Natural relationship refers to the interface between the organism and the environment that supports it. The body is in natural relationship with oxygen, but not with smoke. This would explain the distinctly different responses exhibited by the body to each substance; e.g., breathing versus coughing.

Remember, the body is self-defending, and will attempt to protect itself against all hostile influences. So what does this first principle mean to us? It dictates that we take on a way of life that is consistent with life, and that life itself is the standard of value by which we judge all other values.

Briefly stated, for a happy and healthy life the following essentials must be provided: pure air; pure water; comfortable temperature; cleanliness of body, both inside and out; adequate sleep; rest and relaxation; a diet of whole, mostly raw, nontoxic plant foods; adequate sunshine and natural light; regular exercise; creative play and recreation; emotional stability; security of life and its means; a pleasant and safe environment; creative, useful work; self-mastery, self-reliance, self-esteem; belonging to a group or fellowship; inspiration, motivation, meaningful goals, commitment; appreciation for beauty; spiritual strength expressed as love, appreciation, respect for self, all living creatures and the planet. We preserve life and are rewarded with happiness by virtue of fulfilling these fundamental needs. To the extent that we fall short, we detract from this achievement. Let us move on.

The second principle states: Acute disease is not an entity, but a process that is remedial, reparative, and restorative in nature. In other words, it is acute disease that helps restore dynamic equilibrium to the body. Succinctly stated, when the toxic load of the body overwhelms the organs of elimination, extraordinary and heroic measures are required. The body marshals its forces and creates new avenues of elimination for the purpose of regaining physiological equanimity. Because the commandeered body part is not an ordained organ of expulsion, we mistakenly identify it as the locus of disease, when in fact it is the remedy. The body has taken right action under wrong conditions. When we interfere with this process by suppressing symptoms, we interfere with the body’s own lifesaving efforts. It would be better and proper to interfere with the cause of disease by discontinuing those behaviors that have made these symptoms inevitable. This leads us to the third principle.

When afflicted by illness, first identify and remove all causes of disease, then establish conditions of health.It is purely logical to understand that the knowledge of an effect depends upon and involves the knowledge of the cause. Symptoms are compelled to exist because they have been determined to existence and action in a prescribed manner. If we remove the cause we remove the effect. If we remove the symptoms and leave the cause, we have done nothing but lull ourselves into a false sense of security as the alarm stops sounding and the fire rages on. Let us waste no time and energy with self-deception, confounding what feels good in the moment with what is good in the long run. Instead, we must learn what and what not to do. Discontinue all deleterious influences and fortify those that are salubrious. Immerse the body in an environment that will allow it to function as designed; one that is in natural relationship with it; one that harmonizes with well-being.

In the final analysis, we must observe self evident truths, acknowledging reality. We must discover and follow a specific course of action, integrating what we know and what we do. We must contemplate cause and effect, owning the consequences of what we irrevocably set in motion. We must subordinate our emotions, impulses and reflexes to reason, always remaining rational. We must consciously choose good over evil and life over death, proudly trumpeting our values and virtues. Achieving health is indeed an intellectual endeavor.

Dr. Mark L. Houllif

https://www.healthrealizations.com/ConsultativeHealthandNutrition/Home.aspx

718.934.7806

drmlh@optonline.net

As a natural health consultant for over 25 years Mark Houllif has been teaching the scientific principles of health promotion. The goal is to guide the individual back to health using natural and nutritonal methods. By removing the causes of disease and establishing conditions of health we allow the body to most powerfully manifest its natural healing tendencies.